Chicago-area native delivers powerful performance in Carole King musical 'Beautiful'

Posted December 08, 2017 12:00 pm

Sarah Bockel stars as Carole King in the Broadway tour of “Beautiful - The Carole King Musical.” Courtesy of Matthew Murphy

“Beautiful - The Carole King Story” - ★ ★ ★ ½

As the second act of “Beautiful - The Carole King Musical” wound down and the 11 o'clock number approached, a murmur went through Cadillac Palace Theatre's opening night audience.

It happened during the scene depicting the recording of King's seminal 1971 album “Tapestry.” The producer urges King (Sarah Bockel) to include an older tune, written with her ex-husband and former partner Gerry Goffin. She balks, then consents.

The audience anticipation was palpable. So was their delight, expressed by the smattering of applause during the opening chords of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and then by the thunderous response to Bockel's forceful, fervent performance marking an artist finding her voice.

Beautifully executed by Bockel - who follows Evanston sisters Jessie Mueller (who won a 2014 Tony Award for her performance) and Abby Mueller (who starred in the national tour) in the role - it's the most powerful moment in this well-conceived, enormously entertaining jukebox tuner which last played Chicago two years ago.

The show features music by Goffin and King, and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and a book by Douglas McGrath as it chronicles King's early career up to her Carnegie Hall debut.

James Clow, left, plays music impresario Don Kirshner, who encouraged good-natured competition between songwriting duo Gerry Goffin and Carole King (Andrew Brewer, second from left, and Sarah Bockel, center) and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (Jacob Heimer, second from right and Sarah Goeke). Courtesy of Matthew Murphy

We meet the talented prodigy as a 16-year-old Brooklyn native and Queens College freshman who lands a job writing catchy pop confections for Don Kirshner (James Clow), who has an uncanny sense of what appeals to teen record buyers.

Shortly after King teams up with lyricist and aspiring playwright Goffin (fine work by Andrew Brewer), their professional partnership turns romantic. They marry and have a daughter while King is still in her teens.

Meanwhile, they turn out a string of hits. Among them is “Some Kind of Wonderful” for The Drifters, played by the dynamic quartet of Josh A. Dawson, Jay McKenzie, Avery Smith and Kristopher Stanley Ward, and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” for The Shirelles, chicly conjured by McKynleigh Alden Abraham, Traci Elaine Lee, Marla Louissaint and Alexis Tidwell.

Sarah Bockel and Andrew Brewer star as Carole King and Gerry Goffin in "Beautiful - The Carole King Musical." The show chronicles their romantic and musical partnership which produced such hits as "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Up on the Roof." Courtesy of Matthew Murphy

What begins as friendly competition evolves into a close friendship with fellow songwriters Cynthia Weil (Sarah Goeke, terrific as the quick-witted lyricist) and Barry Mann (Jacob Heimer, endearing as her hypochondriac composer), whose “On Broadway” and “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” reflect the kind of sophistication the increasingly dissatisfied Goffin wants to explore. Brewer avoids the tortured artist stereotype to reveal a troubled man turned unfaithful husband. Stymied by his pop success, he senses he's not fulfilled his potential. but can't seem to determine what that potential is. Without speaking, Brewer conveys Goffin's conflict beautifully in the second act when he hears for the first time “We've Got to Get Out of This Place” and recognizes the power his lyrics lack.

The acting is first-rate in director Marc Bruni's discreet, briskly paced production, but what stands out is the deeply personal performance from Bockel - a Chicago area native whose credits include the Paramount Theatre in Aurora and productions at BoHo, The Hypocrites and Haven theaters.

Kristopher Stanley Ward, left, Josh A. Dawson, Avery Smith and Jay McKenzie play The Drifters, who made hits of the Goffin-King compositions "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Up on the Roof." Courtesy of Matthew Murphy

Her acting has an authenticity that's reflected in her portrayal of an insecure teenager, who dislikes her voice and fears performing live. And it's evident in the indestructibility of the woman who transitions from a duo to a solo with astonishing results.

Then there's her singing. It recalls the husky, unvarnished quality of King's voice, which transforms over more than two hours from girlish to womanly to conclude gloriously with the revelation of a most “Natural Woman.”

Location: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com

Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, through Jan. 28. Also 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10.

Running time: About two hours, 25 minutes, with intermission

Tickets: $30-$115

Parking: Paid lots nearby

Rating: For teens and older; references mature subects

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